RE: [ga] Eliminating the Add Grace Period

["Dominik Filipp" <dominik.filipp@xxxxxxxx>]

See my '>>' notes below

Is there anyone out there really concerned about protecting the
interests of the consumer?
Giving the consumer the option of immediately deleting a name is
pro-consumer.
.
>> An option of immediate deletion of domain name makes no sense for
consumers. If I order a name, what should I immediately delete it for? I
perhaps could have a possibility to correct a typo error but this is
different from deletion. The deletion without prior paying the
registration fee suits just domain name speculators, no one else.
But once the domain name has been properly registered and paid for any
further modification is possible, even the name deletion if the consumer
wishes to do so.
<<

Eliminating the Add Grace Period is anti-consumer.
Giving the consumer the option of immediately deleting a name argues for
both the continuance of the ADD Grace period AND adding a RENEW Grace
Period.
Allowing for a RENEW Grace Period would be a pro-consumer move.  It is
very common for a customer to renew a name by mistake. Today, the only
options for a renewal mistake are to issue a credit card charge-back or
ask the registrar to eat the fee. Eliminating the Add Grace Period would
reduce the consumer to the same two sorry options.
.
>> Yes, normally, it requires some extra money operations and many
providers even don't allow corrections of registered name (which is
ironical as this is the only intended purpose of AGP). I don't think it
is so common for customers to renew a name by mistake. I personally
think it occurs rarely. But, basically, the typo correction has no
relation to the grace period in terms of registration fee refund. The
customer still claims to keep the name. No deletion, no renewal, and no
refund is demanded at any side. This is just a modification of an
existing domain name registration. The only meaningful grace period here
I see in a correction 'for free' during the period.
<<

So, let's stop pretending that eliminating the Add Grace Period is
pro-consumer. It is not.
Rather than simply abolishing the ADD Grace Period, there should be more
creative thinking to find a way to address domain tasting without
harming the consumer.
.
>> Quite the contrary. Eliminating AGP will not harm customers. The
intended purpose of AGP (typo correction) can still be kept without
providing a grace period. On the other hand, the misuse of AGP because
of the grace is enormous. It's been recognized as a conceptual root of
the problems related to the tasting. From this point of view, keeping
the current AGP concept is pretty anti-consumer. Just read numerous
articles on this topic on the net.
One remark. I think in this case the customer shouldn't take the grace
period for granted. The customer is supplied 'the perfect goods' with no
technical damage possible, which would entitle to apply a 'warranty
period' and thus claim the money back. Allowing the grace period here is
just a good will of domain providers (registrars, registries), and it's
not as obvious as it might seem.
 
In summary, eliminating AGP makes no one really cry over it (except for
the speculators) but helps solve the problem.

Regards

Dominik
<<

Regards,

Tom Barrett
EnCirca, Inc